Screenwriting : Selling Script by Bev Kuhn-Moyer

Make a successful pitch to an exec or a producer at Stage 32 and your wish may come true.

Thank you Juhani.

There are lots of ways, a good thing to do is enter competitions and win them. Then you'll have awards to show the quality of your work, plus get your name onto as many credits as possible so you have a proven work record. As I understand it, most of them want to build a lasting working relationship not just buy a movie script. So they aren't looking for just one great script, they want a track record of great scripts that other people want to make.

Script revolution is a great site. Ink tip is okay.

But there are lots of scripts there. So make sure your script as good as it can be.

There are no second chances at a first impression.

Dunno how you're gonna get WGA scale money$$$$ without a rep.

Independent Producers don't usually shell out $100,000++ for script from unknowns. Maybe $1000 options.

I'm familiar with Ink tip, and I have placed in competitions. Any one successful emailing a producer directly off of Imdb?

Bev, basically no (there are rare exceptions),

Bev Kuhn-Moyer How much are you expecting, above or below $100,000?

Dan MaxXx I can’t see where anyone but you has mentioned money. The question was , how to sell a script without an agent.

I know you have a passion for pointing out how much big time writers make and that most writers will not get that. But settle down. I think we all realise that fact. Let’s focus on the question and see if we can help.

PS: all my sales (limited as they are have been without a manager or agent)

Craig D Griffiths yes craig, please continue to teach us about the American film Industry from overseas.

Dan MaxXx I am gently saying you are getting boring. Every time some asks a question you start with the WGA rate is blah blah blah... Or if someone asks about a service you come back with “ they aren’t a studio, they aren’t buying your script”.

I actually don’t give a rats fat ass about the Hollywood system. I like to help people improve as artists. That applies to the other 6billion people on the planet. No doubt you’ll tell me I will not make ..... don’t care.

Craig - I think Dan Ms' question is valid but may come across as a little 'raw' to some. He's a New Yorker - I get it. The OPs' question relates to selling (money) a script without on Agent. She needs to define at what level she is intending. If she's talking about 6 figures - she's talking Hollywood. She ain't gonna get there without an Agent (at least a Manager) and a proven track record - lightening has been known to strike. She's in Delaware - a goodly distance from Hollywood (which means she likely has no friends/acquaintances in the industry). All/most Agents that I know work the Hollywood beat but I suspect that there are some who work the East Coast market.

My advice to her is to work her local market; which I guess is mostly small to mid sized Indies and where I suspect cracking 4 figures is difficult. When it comes to with/without an Agent, she really just has to involve herself in the local Indie filmmaking community. Filmmaking (at every level) is an intensely personal endeavor.

Money is determined by the customer in all markets, cars, food, films. We charge as much as we can. There is a saying in business “charge as much as the market will pay”.

If we really want to talk about the principals of marketing i’d be excited, price, position, promotion and product.

But that wasn’t the question.

I asked a question the other day. Basically, does anyone believe Hollywood as an option. No one said yes. So the WGA/Studio blurb is not helping it appears.

E-query producers. E-query managers.

But first: have an amazing script that will open doors for you.

William Martell craft wins all fights

Before I had an agent I would just call up producers five days a week and send out query letters.

Dan M. If a production company is a WGA Signatory they have no choice but to pay the WGA minimum whether or not a screenwriter has representation..

Dan, did you have any luck, before securing your agent, when you sent out query letters or called up producers?

Bev. Yes. I sent a query letter to John Travolta's Agent and John Travolta's manager/producer requested the script and eventually optioned it. It died in development because of previous studio commitments. Mine was not a big budget project so I think his manager/producer didn't really want to see it get made. For him it was always about the money.

Thank you Dan for your feedback! Loved hearing all the responses. Hopefully more people will join the conversation.

You are welcome.

Meet people who work in the industry. Keep building your network. Help your network. They'll help you. As it builds in scope and power you'll find your scripts getting in the right hands.

Start small, locally, gain some experience and work your way up.